SK Telecom said on the 16th that it will partner with OpenAI as the only domestic telecom B2C (business-to-consumer transaction) partner. The partnership was formed following the announcement on the 10th of OpenAI's launch of its Korea office. The main backdrop is that Korea has emerged as an "AI full-stack nation" with AI infrastructure, government policy support, and high technological receptivity.
In particular, the partnership between SK Telecom and OpenAI is based on close trust between the two companies. The two held a "Global AI Hackathon" in 2023 to identify AI talent. Since February 2024, they have participated as founding members of the "MIT GenAI Impact Consortium" and have been conducting generative AI research for industrial innovation, including manufacturing AI.
As the first phase of the partnership, SK Telecom will run a "ChatGPT Plus" promotion. For new customers and those who have not used the service for three months or more, the company will offer two months free with a one-month subscription to "ChatGPT Plus," and SK Telecom customers can receive the benefit by getting a coupon from "T Universe" from Sept. 19 to February next year. ChatGPT Plus is a paid subscription plan that offers faster responses and priority access over the free version, with a range of features including advanced voice mode, video generation, and in-depth research.
The partnership is part of SK Telecom's "self-strengthening and cooperation" strategy, under which SK Telecom is working with global AI corporations to strengthen the build-out of domestic and international AI value chains. It has also been selected for the "proprietary AI foundation model" project to bolster global AI competitiveness, and is building "SK AI Data Center Ulsan" as it proceeds with its AI infrastructure business.